RINGWORM

This disease appears in circular patches upon the neck, forehead, or scalp; it begins with clusters of little pustules, which form scabs, leaving a red pimply surface, and destroying the roots of the hair as it proceeds, which it does, if not prevented, over the greater part of the head. It is most common in children of a feeble flabby habit; but as it is communicable by contagion, it generally spreads rapidly in schools and families by the frequent contact of the heads of children, or by the use of the same caps, combs, towels, .; so that when it once appears, the diseased boys should be strictly removed from the others. The treatment consists in shaving the head, and using frequent and regular ablutions in the first instance, sponging the part with weak soap and water; when the scabbing begins, other applications must be used, the selection of which must entirely depend upon the degree of irritation and other circumstances. Solutions of nitrate of silver, sulphate of copper, iodide of pota ium, or of iron, pitch and tar ointments, petroleum and naphtha, mercurial ointments of different kinds, and various other stimulants, as also sometimes sedatives, are resorted to, to get rid of the morbid state of the part; but so whimsical and obstinate is the disease, that it is impo ible to lay down any mode of treatment which can be considered [s. 1069]